WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Atlantic Veal & Lamb LLC of Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 25, 2025, resolving alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under this agreement, Atlantic Veal & Lamb waived its right to a hearing and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $13,000.
A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service investigation revealed that between Aug. 2, 2024, and Sept. 9, 2024, Atlantic Veal & Lamb, failed to pay timely for 23 livestock purchases totaling $4,023,874. Payments were issued between 16 to 36 days late. Atlantic Veal & Lamb also failed to grade carcasses timely, record the date when grading occurred and maintain the identity of each individual carcass. Consequently, livestock sellers were not provided with a true written account of such transactions showing the number, weight, and price of the carcasses of each grade.
Packers purchasing livestock on a carcass grade basis are required to make final grades before the close of the second business day following the date the livestock is slaughtered and provide accurate accounting to livestock sellers. Subject entities are also required to issue the full payment for livestock purchases by the close of the first business day following the purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to do either are violations of the P&S Act and regulations.
The Secretary of Agriculture has authority under the P&S Act to take action against violators, including issuing orders to cease and desist, suspending registrations, and applying other appropriate remedies as authorized by the Act. USDA may also offer alleged violators the option to waive their right to a hearing and enter into a stipulation agreement to resolve the suspected violations quickly.
For information about the P&S Act, contact Amy Blechinger, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051 or Amy.R.Blechinger@usda.gov.
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